Honda's Alabama auto plant talks diversity, among its people and products (photos)

LINCOLN, Alabama -- A church drummer. A volunteer firefighter. A competitive vegan body builder. And the list goes on.

While it may sound like those people have nothing in common, they're all employees of the Honda plant in Talladega County, and they're helping the Japanese automaker tell a story about diversity and teamwork.

This week, Honda representatives visited Lincoln High School with two specially-designed vehicles in tow.

An Odyssey minivan and Pilot SUV, both models produced at the Alabama factory, were wrapped with photos of employees doing things they love to do, from bowling to knitting.

The vehicles are part of the plant’s new diversity and inclusion initiative – What Makes You Makes Honda Better – that highlights the different backgrounds and interests of its 4,000-member workforce. The company is taking the vehicles to schools and special events as part of the program.

Mike Oatridge, the plant's vice president, spoke to about 50 students, telling them that embracing differences in the workplace -- and learning to work well together amid them -- is reflected in what rolls off the assembly line.

"If we do that well, we end up with a product that appeals to many, many people around the world," he said. "If we don't understand those differences, we wouldn't be in business very long."

More than 32 percent of the plant's workforce is black, while a quarter is female. There's also more than 100 Japanese workers.

The vast majority -- 91 percent -- hails from five Alabama counties: Calhoun, Etowah, Jefferson, St. Clair and Talladega. The other 9 percent is from another 21 counties.

The plant also employs engineers from across the U.S., and Honda leaders from Japan, Canada and Ohio helped with its startup.

But Oatridge, who himself is Canadian, said diversity goes beyond statistics, and he encouraged students to try to understand their peers on a deeper level.

He also discussed diversity in some of the plant's vehicles, particularly those that are exported.

For Alabama-made Pilots shipped to Russia, for example, there's a beefier suspension and a higher ground clearance. That's because of poor road conditions in some areas of the country and certain parking habits -- Russian drivers tend to jump curbs.

And the models exported to Bahrain must have a full-size spare tire, not just a donut. There's a lot of desert driving in the Middle Eastern nation, and a smaller tire won't help when drivers are dealing with a flat and lots of sand.

School officials said Honda has helped diversify the education experience for students in the community as well.

Since Honda started operations in Lincoln in 2001, there's been substantial growth in population and support businesses. The city has about 6,200 residents, according to 2011 Census estimates, up about 35 percent from 2000.

Beyond that, living near a manufacturing center for an international automaker has given students a curiosity about the world beyond their small community, said Lincoln High School Principal Terry Roller.

Several years ago, the school started international education tours, taking a group of students and parents to London, Paris and Rome. In two weeks, another group from the school will tour Italy.

"It's really just that richness and diversity that's created a new experience for us," he said of Honda's proximity to the school. "It makes our kids want to go explore the world."

Rhonda Lee, principal of Lincoln's Charles R. Drew Middle School and an educator in the community for 30 years, said Honda brought a shift in attitude. People there previously thought of it as 'just' a small town.

"If I could sum up in one word what Honda's meant to the community, it's hope," she said. "We've gone from 'we're just Lincoln' to 'we are Lincoln,' and there's so much more we can do."